Carmine G. Coppa

Mr. Carmine G. Coppa, 93, entered the arms of the Lord, surrounded by His heavenly Angels on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

Due to special circumstances, the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden will be held on Monday, April 28th. from 4:00-8:00PM.  On Tuesday, April 29th. at 9:45AM, family and friends are invited to gather directly at  St. John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Clark, where a funeral mass will be offered at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Carmine’s entombment in the family crypt in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey.

Carmine, the son of the late Phyllis Occhipinti Coppa and the late George Coppa was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey.  He and his wife, Doris moved to Linden in 1955 where they resided until 1974 when they bought a home in Rahway.  Ultimately three years ago, it came time for Carmine to live with his daughter Lisa, where he thrived from all her care and attention.  Carmine, in turn, was a constant source of support who shared great life advice, for all who would listen.  

His career in the advertising field spanned forty-six years and Carmine left his indelible mark as an advertising executive for N.W. Ayer & Son in Manhattan, New York City, New York before his well-deserved retirement in 1993. 

Carmine was an imposing figure – not in stature, because we know he was a smaller Italian gentleman.  However, his greatness came from being a lovable, huggable man, who didn’t have a mean bone in his body, had a smile that could melt a heart of stone, was blessed with a strength of character and integrity, and who would help anyone in need.  He was a pillar in his community starting with his service to this country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  Carmine’s faith was strong and vibrant, and he enjoyed being with the church members of St. John the Apostle R. C. Church, serving as an usher during the various masses.  His second family was the Linden Knights of Columbus, Council #2859 and he loved playing with his fellow Knights on both their softball team and bowling team.  As a member of the “exclusive” MOD, Carmine also enjoyed a round of golf with his buddies.  A sports enthusiast, Carmine enjoyed watching the NY Yankees and the NY Giants games.  Carmine was the President of the Columbian Club for too many years to count, where he oversaw the event bookings and orchestrated and coordinated all the various trips to Alaska, Las Vegas and other exciting destinations.  When there was an event at the Knights, whether it was for the men or the Ladies Auxiliary, Carmine was dressed up in his suit jacket and welcoming you at the ropes as your maître d', calling out numbers and seating people in a well-organized fashion.  He was the “Johnny on the Spot”, if anything needed to be attended to.  When it came to the spaghetti dinner, Carmine would be in the kitchen with his compadre, Andy Vena, cooking up huge vats of their delicious gravy/sauce, serving hundreds of attendees.  Carmine was a “socialite” in the true sense in that wherever he went, he somehow managed to know someone.  In his downtime, Carmine loved to read, travel about, perhaps spend some peaceful time at the beach or gather for special dinners with his Cousin’s Club.  If Carmine wasn’t at the Knights, then he was with his family at home.  A true “family patriarch”, Carmine was present every minute of every day for his kids, his grandkids and then his great grandkids.  He met all their needs with his love and devotion, helping them navigate the pitfalls of life - again always with a smile and a hug.  He was forever showing in his actions how much he loved his family, and he was not too shy to tell others how much he loved them too!  It didn’t matter if there was only time for a quick visit, a holiday celebration, a family dinner or a last-minute backyard BBQ – Carmine would look around, taking it all in and say to all within hearing distance “This is what I love, having my family together!”. 

Throughout his life, Carmine endured many losses that he accepted, even as his heart was breaking and he helped his family through their darkest hours, as well.  He lost the love of his life in 2022, his wife, Doris J. Marcocci Coppa; his daughter, Phyllis A. Dooley (2024) and his two sons-in-law, George Dooley (1998) and Stephen Symczak (2024). 

Carmine leaves behind the shattered spirits of his son, George R. Coppa and his wife, Anne; his daughter, Lisa A. Symczak; his seven grandchildren, Megan M. Tierney and her spouse, Ashley Tierney, Nicholas G. Coppa, Brian G. Dooley and his wife, Silvana, Shannon N. Kowal and her husband, Matthew M. Kowal, Stephen J. Symczak and his wife, Katie, Kevin M. Symczak and his wife, Santana and Tyler J. Symczak and his wife, Cassie; his four great grandchildren, Giuliana Dooley, Alessia Dooley, Leo Symczak and Emma Symczak; his sister, Florence Decker and Carmine’s many nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends.

We know that the Lord granted Carmine a life full of blessings and love, sprinkled with the pain of personal losses.  His legacy shows us the importance of family, faith and perseverance with grace and dignity.  As we mourn the loss of Carmine, may we rejoice that he is now reunited with all those who went before him, especially Doris, Phyllis, George and Stephen.  God doesn’t create men like Carmine too often, but when He did, we were all blessed to be a part of Carmine’s circle of family and friends.  We will miss him tremendously, but Carmine will never be forgotten and may he find eternal rest with our Lord and Savior. 

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